Deya talks with Miss Black USA 2011 Ocielia Gibson

On August 8, 2011, Ocielia Gibson made history as the first Miss Black Texas to win the national title of Miss Black USA. A native Texan, Ocielia began her classical piano training at a young age and continued up to receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Texas Woman’s University. She has had the privilege to perform in a variety of distinguished recital and concert halls, including the renowned Carnegie Hall.

In 2006, Ocielia founded an empowerment organization dedicated to instilling the message of true beauty to young women of color. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work including The Total Renaissance Women Foundation and Pine-Sol. In 2009, Ocielia became the youngest woman to receive EBONY Magazine’s Unsung Hero Award for her work with young African-American women.

Ocielia is pursuing her Master of Divinity with a concentration in Women’s Ministry, and aspires to become an international speaker, author, and advocate for discounted girls and women.

As Miss Black USA 2011, Ocielia will serve as a celebrity advocate for the Heart Truth campaign, a national partner of Miss Black USA. The Heart Truth raises awareness of heart disease, the #1 killer of women. One in four women dies of heart disease each year. Ocielia will also travel throughout the U.S. empowering women, families and communities to GET UP and GET MOVING to help fight the obesity epidemic.